Bulls guard Kris Dunn snarled his face to describe the tenacity he brings to basketball.

“I’m a pit bull,” he said. “You ever see one of them scary red-nose (pit bulls)? Yeah, that's me.”

Dunn knows that his work ethic has been questioned this offseason. But he said he doesn’t understand why, and he doesn't believe the claims have validity.

And he certainly didn't like hearing the criticism.

“I was definitely offended by it,” he told the Tribune Monday at the KPMG Windy City Skills Challenge at Soldier Field, where he helped children involved in golf development programs test their skills in basketball in conjunction with the Women’s PGA Championship later this week at Kemper Lakes.

“My dad worked hard in life. My brothers and sisters and me (took) hard work very seriously. It is the only way to succeed.”

Earlier Monday, he worked out at Advocate Center before the Bulls' news conference with their new draft picks.

Previously, team sources indicated Dunn attended to a personal matter that made him not immediately available for one scheduled workout and some minor concern existed over Dunn's work in the weight room. In a recent interview on WSCR-AM 670, executive vice president John Paxson denied any displeasure with Dunn’s offseason workouts.

A Sun-Times report in early June indicated the Bulls might draft a point guard because they were not satisfied by Dunn's work habits in May and early June.

“You don’t get too caught up in it,” Dunn said. “You just keep doing what you do best. I know I work hard. I don’t have to prove it to anybody. I just have to show it on the court. I have no answers for (why the rumors originated). Whoever put it out there, that’s how they felt. Questioning my work ethic? That’s just (not valid). I work hard. If I’m not working, I’m around my family. Absolutely nothing (has changed about workouts or preparation).”

The Timberwolves drafted Dunn with the fifth overall pick in the 2016 draft out of Providence and traded him to the Bulls before last season along with Zach LaVine and the rights to Lauri Markkanen in exchange for Jimmy Butler.

He seemed to make a jump in his second season in the league averaging 13.4 points and 1.98 steals per game.

Dunn said he’s looking forward to a better season — personally and for the team after the Bulls missed the playoffs for the second time in three years with a 27-55 record. He said he looks forward to playing with first-round draft picks Wendell Carter Jr. and Chandler Hutchinson.

“I’m excited,” Dunn said. “We have some good players. It will help us with games and help bring excitement to the fans. Last year it was amazing to play in front of the fans. We didn’t have the year that we wanted last year. Hopefully this year we can get it back by going out and competing each and every game."

“I’m going to try to be a little more mature on the court. Understanding of the clock and game situation we’re in, who has it rolling, who doesn’t have it rolling. Just playing my game and being aggressive."